After this page loads (each model has 31 files to load, 3-4k each), use
the mouse to scroll left or right through geologic time, from the late
Jurassic (150 Ma) to the Present (O Ma). The time interval between
frames is 5 Ma (the numbers are small and hard to read, but you can figure
it out). You can also use the arrow keys on your keyboard to control
the frames back and forth through time (be sure the mouse points in the
frame). All these maps were generated at the ODSN
website (Great! Go there!). OK, it should be loaded by now, go play
with the first model!
Pangaea I
Lambert Azimuthal Projection
Pangaea II
Mollweide Projection
Pangaea III
Azimuthal Equidistant Projection
Notice some of the interesting features of this model. Watch the
Caribbean evolve, especially the northernmost part of South America.
Watch India move forward inexorably toward the soft underbelly of Asia,
leaving behind the 90E Ridge on its east side. I think I can see
some mistakes in the model, like plate fragments that overlap anomolously
in their early history. And finally, take a close look at the Indian
Ocean. You should recognize each of those continental fragments ("displaced
terranes" in plate parlance), but if you don't get a good map of the world's
oceans and find out who they are.
Again, all these plate reconstructions were created using the ODSN
website. Go check it out! For bigger, color images of each
of these frames, go to the Pangaea decaf page (coming soon).
Or just go to ODSN.
This page uses a java applet that displays a VR model.
Java makes it possible to see multimedia content on many platforms without
downloading plug-ins or installing software. Visit FreedomVR at www.honeylocust.com/vr/
for this cool Java applet. Produced for WebDoGS by Paul Howell, 7/15/98.